Waihi information

Few places in New Zealand are as unique as the town of Waihi, which has the giant mining open pit a short walk from a vibrant main street with cafes and retail stores.

Gold is at the heart of any Waihi tale, and the town has adopted the title ‘heart of gold’ as its slogan. The precious metal was first discovered in Waihi in 1878. Bronze sculptures through the town pay homage to the everyday folk who lived here.

The remains of a Gothic-style Cornish Pumphouse that was based on the design used in the tin mines of Cornwall, England, housed the steam engines that kept the

The Waihi community makes an effort with big and small events all year round. Your arrival via the Hauraki Rail Trail will place you at the historic train station on the south west of town, from where you’ll want to head to the buzzing Seddon St. Stop by the Waihi Arts Centre and Museum to gain insights into the history of the town and surrounds and chin wag with volunteers who can tell you more about where you’ve just cycled through in Waikino. The Pit Rim Walkway up the hill from Seddon St takes walkers and cyclists around the perimeter of the giant Martha Mine open pit, which believe it or not, was once a hill.

We are a friendly, family-owned motel situated in a lovely quiet location in historical Waihi. With 10 spacious, warm and comfortable units, including 2 larger units to suit families. Our motel is a short walk to Waihi’s town centre, enjoy it’s many lovely cafés and restaurants and locally owned stores and boutiques. The trail starts, or ends, a quick two minute bike ride from our door. We offer a secure bike storage shed. Because of our location right at the base of the glorious Coromandel Peninsula, day trips from here are easily possible and Waihi Beach is only a 15 minute car ride away. We offer free unlimited fibre WIFI, with connected Smart TVs. Pet Friendly by appointment only (conditions and fees apply). Take a break and visit us here at the Goldmine Motel. We would love to see you.

07 8637111

W: www.goldminemotel.co.nz E: info@goldminemotel.co.nz 6 Victoria St, Waihi

Martha mine from flooding back in the early days. The pumphouse has been moved and may be on the move again if OceanaGold’s plans to expand its open pit are allowed. Beyond gold heritage, there’s friendly museum volunteers and retailers who’ll welcome you with things to see, do and purchase. Books on Seddon opened up in 2021 and sells pre-loved excellent condition books upstairs on the corner of Seddon and Haszard St.

If it’s a haircut you need, walk in to Maddcutzz, where teenage owners Jamie and Maddie Grey won People’s Choice for all businesses in the entire Hauraki and Coromandel in 2021 for their barber shop on Haszard St. The Laughing Potter Andrew Killick creates bespoke pottery items at his workshop in the heart of town and runs workshops for those wanting to learn. For kids and big kids who love lego, there’s Spike’s Bricks and Models which is a collection of lego models through the decades.

Gilmour Reserve is another highlight in Waihi; a serene spot with a lake and picnic areas, playground and cherry blossom trees in Spring.

Waihi Arts Centre and Museum

Waihi Arts Centre and Museum is a hub for the history of Waihi and a current host to numerous wonderful exhibitions.

Last year these included Clear as Mud Pottery Show featuring pottery from the area’s many talented potters, a 50-year retrospective exhibition on kiwi singer song

writing legend and local woman Shona Laing, and a celebration of 100 years of Waihi Women’s Institute and the national federation’s encouragement and support of all women within their communities.

The museum presents the history of the gold mining era (1880s - 1950s) in Karangahake and Waihi. The gallery doubles as a theatre showing miningrelated films to visiting groups, and a meeting room for other Waihi historyorientated folk.

Among displays is a layered model of the mine shafts that make up the honeycombed underground workings of Waihi’s gold mine. It’s incredible to think that many of the veins that are being mined today are still the old ones that were excavated by hand by the town’s early miners. Volunteers at the Waihi Arts Centre and Museum are always willing to share anecdotes or point visitors in the direction of interesting facts and local history, or let you browse at your own pace and discover their range of models, exhibits, videos and rooms for yourself. There’s an impressive rock and gem collection and a jail that was reassembled from the original that once housed strikers in the Waihi Mine Strike of 1912, a major action widely regarded as the most significant industrial action in the history of New Zealand’s labour movement.

The violence was as vicious as any ever seen in a civil conflict in New Zealand, and hundreds of people fled Waihi in the days after what became known as ‘Black Tuesday’ in 1912.* *Information from NZ History.

54 Kenny St, Waihi OPEN 12noon -3pm Thurs to Mon www.waihimuseum.co.nz

5 Best Reasons To Visit Waihi

1. Ride or walk the Pit Rim Walkway and view the giant Martha Open Pit which has plans for expansion in this goldrich town. Combo it with a Waihi Gold

Discovery Centre tour to get behind the fences. 2. Go deeper on Waihi and surround’s fascinating history and take in an exhibition at the Waihi Arts Centre and

Museum

3. Mooch the shops and cafes on offer in this beautiful small town – from the german baker to a French patisserie and great coffee, buddha bowls, you name it, Waihi café’s are unbeatable. 4. Gilmour Reserve in Waihi is a serene spot with gliding swans, cherry blossoms in spring and events in summer, pick up a copy of the local paper, HC Post, for What’s On. 5. The Laughing Potter Andrew Killick not only sells bespoke pottery using local clay and sands but offers workshops where you can have a go at the potter’s wheel.

Hauraki Mayor Toby Adams in Waihi. The town was founded on the shoulders of hard working miners.

Cornish Pumphouse Come and relax in our pool and spa, spend the evening unwinding in our garden and enjoy our comfortable rooms. We offer Sky TV, free WIFI, BBQ & lock up bike storage. Only 300m to the Hauraki Rail Trail and playground

07 863 8461

123 Parry Palm Avenue, Waihi

info@palmmotelwaihi.co.nz • www.palmmotelwaihi.co.nz

WAIHI CAMP & CABINS

We offer a relaxed family atmosphere, located conveniently close to town with a rural outlook and serene park like grounds. We are in close vicinity of both Waihi Beach and the Karangahake Rail Trail We offer a selection log cabins, self-contained family units, new cabins, backpacker rooms, powered sites and tent sites. We have a large Swimming Pool and ample parking available. An enjoyable stay for the whole family, ........................................................................................................... 6 Waitete Road, Waihi • Ph: 07 863 7654 www.waihicampandcabins.nz • Find us on facebook!

hether you’re cycling the Hauraki Rail Trail, exploring our gold mining past, walking in the magnificent bush-clad hills of the Karangahake Gorge, or just relaxing on the white sand of Waihi Beach, the Waihi area is a great place to experience real New Zealand. TAKE A BREAK

What better way to round off your day than to sit and relax with good coffee, good food, and good friends in Waihi’s ‘most beautiful’ town centre. Once refreshed and refuelled, wander the quiet streets to unlock windows into our pioneering past, and get a taste of our unique and intriguing stories. To discover more, you must visit the award-winning Gold Discovery Centre and our innovative i-SITE.

GOLD FEVER

It was the quest for gold that first brought Europeans to Waihi in numbers. In 1878 gold-bearing quartz was discovered on Pukewa Spur (now Martha Mine), and just a decade later Waihi boasted a population three times that of Hamilton. The mighty Martha Mine had quickly become one of the most important gold mines in the world. Today, Waihi's huge working open pit gold mine is only metres from the centre of town, and you can walk right to the edge and look hundreds of meters down, deep into the chasm.

WAIHI'S LOCAL TRAILS

Extend your Hauraki Rail Trail experience by exploring Waihi’s local mountain biking and walking trails. We have something for everyone...

GOLD MINE PIT RIM WALKWAY / CYCLEWAY

If you're after a spectacular, 'must see' walk or ride to compliment your Hauraki Rail Trail experience, then the Pit Rim Walkway is perfect. Join the trail opposite the i-SITE, under the shadow of the Cornish Pumphouse, where it rises gently to the edge of the gold mine for your first glimpse into the open pit. The gravel path continues clockwise around the western end of the mine before the 4 km loop brings you back to the i-SITE via interesting heritage features, bush and scenic park-land. Interpretative signs along the way will give you interesting insights into Waihi and the gold mine.

UNION HILL & MILL STREAM WALKWAY

This peaceful walk can be accessed from the Pit Rim Walkway by crossing Kenny Street and following the signs. The 1.5 km trail leads you through the historic Waihi Gold Processing Battery site where you’ll find yourself surrounded by fascinating historic gold-mining relics. The trail can be completed as a short loop, returning via the Mill Stream Walkway, or used as a link between the Pit Rim Walkway and Gilmour Lake or the Black Hill MTB Track and walking trails.

GILMOUR LAKE AND BLACK HILL MTB TRAILS

After walking the loop track or enjoying the playground at Gilmour Lake, take a peaceful walk, or cycle, upstream along the banks of the Ohinemuri River. The 5 km riverbank loop track leads you around Motu Kehu/Black Hill through native bush, farmland and hundred year-old oaks. If it’s a more challenging mountain bike experience that you’re looking for, then the grade three Black Hill Track will deliver. Ride to the end of Clarke Street, cross the stile to your left, and follow the yellow markers for a 10 km loop of sweet single track action through pine forest and native bush. This track guarantees to get your heart pumping.